Uses of Limestone

As we mentioned above, the first thing to come to your mind when you hear limestone uses is much likely to be its use in construction. It's isn't quite surprising considering that architecture (or construction) is one of those fields which are dependent on this sedimentary rock type to a great extent. However, there do exist various other uses of this rock - quite a few of which are very common in our day-to-day life.

Limestone Facts

Limestone rock is a sedimentary rock which forms in the process of sedimentation at the bottom of lakes and oceans or in caves. This type of rock is mainly composed of mineral calcite and aragonite, both of which are the crystal forms of calcium carbonate. A limestone which contains 95 percent or more of calcium carbonate by weight is known as a high-calcium limestone. Its properties such as hardness, compactness, imperviousness and durability have a crucial role to play when it comes to its uses.

As far as texture is concerned, limestone varieties vary between very fine textured rocks to coarse textured rocks. The low porosity of these rocks reduce their water absorption capacity to 1 percent, and this, in turn, makes them weather resistance. All these chemical and physical properties make limestone one of the most useful types of rock on the planet.

Limestone Uses

As we mentioned earlier, the first thing to come to your mind when you hear limestone is quite likely to be its use in construction and architecture. Some of the most prominent landmarks in the world, including the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, are made from this rock type. Even though the use of limestone in architecture is seen all over the world, the practice is most popular in North American and European countries. Interestingly, the Canadian city of Kingston in Ontario province has so many buildings made from limestone rock that the city itself has been nicknamed the Limestone City. Other than its direct use in construction, this rock is also used in production of Portland cement which is a vital component in the field of construction. In the field of construction, it is also used to build roads and railroads - wherein it is used in crushed form to lay the foundation.

Not many people out there would need an introduction to limestone countertops which add to the grace of your kitchen. The use of minerals such as calcite and dolomite, which are found in abundance in limestone rocks, is also quite popular. These minerals are used in the process of manufacturing products of daily use such as paper, baking soda, detergent, glass, textiles etc. They also used in toothpaste wherein they work as filler, white pigment and abrasive. The use of these minerals is also observed in products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fertilizers, paint and varnish, etc. The uses of limestone powder can be traced to coal mines (wherein it is used to control coal mine dust) and power plants (wherein it is used to collect sulfur dioxide.) It is also used in purification of molten glass as well as molten iron. The use of limestone in steel making along with iron ore and coke is also quite popular. In its pulverized form, it is used as a soil conditioner to neutralize soil high in acidic content.

That being said, the uses of this sedimentary rock are not restricted to the ones mentioned above. The erosional landforms carved out of limestone rock, known as karst in geology, play an important role in natural landscaping. Similarly, the geological formations of limestone are considered to be the best petroleum reservoirs on the planet.